Easel frame



s st; 7, 1948.

W. J. CROSBY EASEL FRAME Filed Oct. 50, 1945 INVENTOR M MI M ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EASEL FRAME William J. Crosby, Waterbury, Conn. Application October 30, 1945, Serial No. 625,490

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to frames for photographs, mirrors and the like, and aims to provide an improved easel frame.

I have discovered that an easel frame for photographs, mirrors and the like, whichis both durable and attractive but inexpensive, may be constructed principally from molded materials such as the synthetic resins which are plastic when heated but set to a hard and rigid state when cooled. Only three different parts need be utilized in the construction of the frame which I have invented. Two of those parts, the panel which holds the photograph or mirror and the leg which supports the panel in upright position, are molded from plastic material. The third part is an ordinary flat steel spring which holds the panel and leg in assembled condition with the leg pivoted to the panel, and also serves as a brake against movement of the leg with respect to the panel.

In accordance with my invention, an easel frame is constructed from a panel and a leg attached to the rear of the panel for pivotal movement through a pair of lugs. The lugs are provided with bearings for journals projecting from opposite sides of the leg. The lugs are provided also with channels communicating with the bearings and the journals are adapted to slide along those channels. A resilient member is provided to seat the journals in the bearings.

A specific embodiment of the easel frame which I have invented, in the form which I now prefer, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the easel frame;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation broken away in part to show the connection between the panel and the Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section illustrating the assembly of the leg and the panel;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the portion of the panel to which the leg is attached;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section illustrating the mode of assembling a modified form of frame; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section illustrating the leg and panel of Fig. 6 in assembled position.

The frame illustrated in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, includes a molded plastic panel In which may be supported in upright position by a molded plastic leg H. The front of panel l0 has inturned flanges I2 extending along its edges to hold in place the photograph l4 and sheet of glass I5. A

and provide a connection between that panel and the leg H. The leg II has a polygonal head |8 with a pair of journals l9 projectingfrom opposite sides. An opening is left in the panel 10 between the lugs l6 and a channel 20 extends along the inner face of each lug l6 from the front edge of that opening to bearings 2| for the journals [9.

The panel l0 and leg II are assembled by thrusting the lower end of leg through the opening in panel l0 between lugs I6 in the direction illustrated by the arrow in broken lines in Fig. 3. The journals P9 are adapted to slide along the channels 20 until they reach their bearings 2|. A flat steel spring 22 is then slid into position between lugs l6 so that its ends abut against shoulders 23 and it presses against the head |8 to hold the journals I9 in their bearings 2|.

It will be noted that the head l8 of leg II has a series of flat faces '24. The resilient spring 22 is adapted to exert a pressure against one of the faces 24. This not only seats the journals IS in their bearings 25 but also provides a braking action which prevents journals l9 from turning in their bearings 2| so easily that leg II will not support the panel ID in upright position.

The frame illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 includes a molded panel 2! which, like the panel ID, has inturned flanges 28 extending along its front edges and a molded leg 29 which, like the leg II, has a polygonal head 30 from which journals 3| project. A pair of lugs 32 project from the rear of panel 21 and contain bearings 33 for journals 3|. The inner face of each lug 32 contains a channel 34 shaped like an inverted L with the shorter leg terminating at :bearing 33.

The frame illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is assembled by sliding the journals 3| along channels 34 as illustrated by the'arrow in Fig. 6 until those journals are seated in their bearings 33. The journals 3| are held in their bearings 33 by a flat spring 34 similar to spring 22.

The panels I0 and 21 and the legs H and 29 may each be formed completely in a mold. Their assembly is a relatively easy operation and con- 1. An easel frame comprising a panel having an 3 opening therein, a pair of lugs projecting from the rear of the panel on either side of said opening, each of said lugs having a bearing and a channel leading from an edge of said opening to the bearing, a leg, journals projecting from opposite sides of the leg and adapted to slide along said channels and to rotate in said bearings, and a resilient member adapted to seat said journals in the bearings.

2. An easel frame comprising a panel having a pair of integral lugs projecting from its rear, each of said lugs having a bearing and a channel leading from an edge of said lug to the bearing, a leg, journals projecting from opposite sides of the leg and adapted to slide along said channels and to rotate in said bearings, and a resilient member adapted to seat said journals in the bearings.

3. An easel frame comprising a panel having a pair of integral lugs projecting from its rear, each of said lugs having a bearing and an L- shaped channel leading from an edge of said lug to the bearing, a leg, journals projecting from opposite sides of the leg and adapted to slide along said channels and to rotate in said bearings, and a resilient member adapted to seat said journals in the bearings.

4. An easel frame comprising a panel having a pair of integral lugs projecting from its rear, each of said lugs having a bearing and a channel leading from its edge to the bearing, a leg having a polygonal head, journals projecting from opposite sides of the head and adapted to slide along said channels and to rotate in said bearings, said head having flat faces parallel with said journals, and a resilient member adapted to exert pressure on one of said faces to seat the journals in the bearings and provide a brake against free rotation of the journals in the bearings.

WILLIAM J. CROSBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 270,130 Roeder Jan. 2, 1883 963,327 Schmitt July 5, 1910 1,820,841 Soref Aug. 25, 1931 1,904,088 Schutz Apr. 18, 1933 

